New-York tribune., 1887-12-11
THE SECESSION or KNIGHTS.
HUGE PROPORTIONS OF THE REBELLION.
ACTIVITY OF THE MALCONTENTs--OP WAR TO BE
DTCI AIRED IN FEBRUARY


PHILADELPHIA, Dec 10.-Scarccly anybody except
those directly involved I'm the matter aware of tho
amazing extent to which the secession movement
among the Knights OF Labor has spread 80 quietly
and secretly has the work OF Mr.. Powder! oppohchS
been carried thus far that the public at largo Knows
little concerning it, but yet 50 thoroughly In earnest
have the anti administration leaders bc@n ana so acFc
in their efforts to destroy the power of the corrupt
Powderly ring that the great array of Sccess ohS's Is
now carefully estimated to comprise "nc-thlrd OF the
cmlrc order, nearly 100000 members. The way Is
already prepared for the gigantic rcV0lntiOn Whch Is
impending, and present appearances Indicate that TINS
revolution will be openly begun before the next two
months have gone by.
Only six weeks ago. when the General Assembly OF
the Knights at Minneapolis broke up in such confusion
and dlscord. the first foundations of the great
secession laid those foundations have grown I"
mighty structure and the magnitude Of rs proportions
has brought the kccncst terror AMI alarm INTO th"
Headquarters Of Mr. Powdcrly's admins ration I'm this
city Authentic reports, shaving tn, Development and
spread of tho dsaIection being revived here daily
by the local leaders of the movement from all parts
Of the country and the manufacturing districts OF
New England. OF NcwYork city and vicinity, of North
crn and Eastern NcwJclScy and Of Baltimore besides
this city and Chicago found To be missionary cen
tres Of the secession movement, from which the work
of separation radiatcs I'm all directions.
Philadelphia. by the common consent Of tie ScceS-
sonists in these centres has been made the head
the hcadonaitcrs for tho west In Philadelphia the
movement has been kept more sccrct than In the other
cities and It's growth has been even moro rapid ana
vigorous. OF the 5000 Knight, iu good standing IN
this city and ncighhofho0d fully ono hall are btH
opposed the icigung Administrations ana the MAYOR
part the other half are either inclined IN inc Sliio
direction or are wholly Indifferent ON the sulI!,t.
When miners strike + oyer. o. = cNp'c'rt inat
the 10000 members Of District Assembly No. @l2 and
the !OuCO Reading Railroad mon will IN largo par
q ,cr he new movement with tie thr hii tdcllh'a
Knights.
The plan outlined Al first by tie ScccS> ionsts was 70
demand Of McssIs. Fowdcrly aud ltchmau an lienIrd
account Of The orders finances and last years cNpcnH
lures and falling This ask the civil courts 10 appoint
a receiver aud issue injunction to restrain LrhlAn
from further handling the orders funds, hu thls Han
has been changed and the Policy 10 bc pursued hence
forth VIII be withhold from the general treasury All
and Assessments I'm order To- starvc ont 10" gen
eral officers General secretary lItchman his week
declared that he will eject from th" order all such A.,
semLlics IS do not pay their taxes promptly. Ihs
threat f LiichmGu'S Is male in direct conflict with
Mr. POwdcrly'S recommended N 10 deal lculcuiy With
such members a. may hc behind In their due.
IutV DAYS after January viii hN February TO-
and before that daic the leaders ~ fhr oipY,ousfs
IN all portion, Of the country propose to begin con
cottcd ard open rcNol ana establish ilcir opposition
or Improved order Of the Knights ~ Labor.